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Peregrine Falcons

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Peregrine Falcon (top of image) stoops on a Golden Eagle (bottom). I observed this event from Glacier Point, more than 1,000 feet above these birds making them barely visible to the naked eye. So this is a tight crop on the image file. Shot with a 7D mk ii and 400 mm f5.6L.
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Peregrine Falcon (top of image) stoops on a Golden Eagle (bottom). I observed this event from Glacier Point, more than 1,000 feet above these birds making them barely visible to the naked eye. So this is a tight crop on the image file. Shot with a 7D mk ii and 400 mm f5.6L.

QO4A1877stoopafter eagle

PeregrinefalconstoopongoldeneagleYosemiteValley

  • These are actually Gyrfalcon chicks but they look similar to peregrines at this age. These were being legally bred in captivity by a licensed and regulated falconer in Oregon. I would otherwise never attempt to get even reasonably close to wild falcon chicks because it can result in injury or fatality if the parents get disturbed enough or should the chicks panic and fall from an eyrie.
  • Juvenile Peregrine Falcons in the Eyrie Growing Flight Feathers and Stretching Their Wings. These birds were so far away they were literally invisible to the naked eye. I used a 600 f4L IS II with a 1.4x TC and still had to crop very tightly to create this image. I crept over rocks and shot while laying on my belly, photographing between shrubs so I would be invisible to the falcons with their incredible eyesight. But keeping a long distance from the birds in the eyrie is critical to their safety.
  • Juveniles on the eyrie ledge and watching a violet green swallow flying past
  • Adult Peregrine Falcon (lower left) quickly approaches a Golden Eagle (upper right) in Yosemite National Park. The peregrine had just delivered a California Gull to its young when the Golden Eagle, observing from across Yosemite Valley swooped in towards the juvenile falcons. The parents took off to defend against the eagle.
  • Peregrine Falcon (top of image) stoops on a Golden Eagle (bottom). I observed this event from Glacier Point, more than 1,000 feet above these birds making them barely visible to the naked eye. So this is a tight crop on the image file. Shot with a 7D mk ii and 400 mm f5.6L.
  • At the moment the falcon swooped in, the eagle rolled onto its back, placing its massive talons into the air in defense.
  • The falcon passes the eagle.
  • The eagle landed on the granite ledge on which the juvenile falcons were feeding. However, both peregrine parents ferociously defended their habitat against the much larger and more powerful eagle. Adult male in upper right and adult female in the lower left with the eagle falling onto its back as it tries to defend itself.
  • The peregrines repeatedly rose up and stooped upon the eagle, knocking it to the ground and onto its face a number of times until the eagle eventually ran and took shelter beneath a mountain ash shrub. It hid long enough for the male to resume hunting and fly off. The female falcon however, perched nearby, screeching at the eagle for over 30 minutes. Eventually, the eagle took flight and quickly flew back across Yosemite Valley as the female repeatedly stooped on the eagle for at least half a mile.
  • Adult Male following the fight with the Eagle. He perched and stared down at the shrub in which the eagle hid, from about 1,000 feet above.
  • Adult male takes off from his perch at Glacier Point in Yosemite. (C)2016
  • JM8_0988
  • Adult Peregrine Falcon soaring overhead in Yosemite National Park. (C)2016
  • Adult Peregrine Falcon in Yosemite National Park, (C)2016
  • Parent peregrine falcon hands off food to a juvenile near Angel's Landing in Zion National Park. (C)2018
  • Juvenile Peregrine in Zion National Park (C)2018
  • Hungry Juvenile peregrine falcon begging its parent for food in mid air over Zion National Park. (C)2018
  • Adult Peregrine falcon flying at high speed over Zion Canyon. (C)2018
  • Juvenile Peregrine Falcon siblings fly together at high speed, Zion National Park. (C)2018
  • Adult peregrine falcon perches in a snag with the brow of Half Dome in the distance.
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